The 1^st International Symposium on Bioactive Peptides (ISBP) was organized by Dr. Jianping Wu (University of Alberta, Canada) in 2017 and was held in Hangzhou (China) in response to the growing interest in the research and applications of food-derived bioactive peptides. It was made possible with generous financial support from the People’s Guotai Group. We thank Mr. ZHANG Heng, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the People’s Guotai Group for his support and vision. This marked the first-ever symposium dedicated to food peptides. The event attracted over 100 attendees from all over the world. Thereafter, it was decided to hold the symposium biannually to provide a platform that allows academia, industry, and regulatory and public sector experts to:

• exchange ideas and share the latest knowledge and innovations in bioactive peptides
• network and develop collaborations and partnerships among professionals in all sectors, and
• promote the growth and professionalism of a new generation of bioactive peptide researchers.  

The 2^nd ISBP Symposium was held in Valencia (Spain) in 2019, organized by Prof. Fidel Toldrá (Instituto de Agroquimica y Tecnologia de Alimentos, Spain) with great success. The 3^rd ISBP Symposium was held (after a 2-year delay due to the pandemic) in Niagara Falls (Canada) in 2023. It was jointly organized by Dr. Jianping Wu (University of Alberta, Canada) and Dr. Rotimi Aluko (University of Manitoba, Canada). At the 3^rd Symposium, the delegates discussed the formation of a Society combining developments in food proteins, peptides and amino acids with an expected launch at the 4^th Symposium.  The 4^th ISBP Symposium was held in Kyoto (Japan) co-organized by Dr. Kenji Sato (Kyoto University, Japan), Dr. Toshiro Matsui (Kyushu University, Japan) and Dr. Satoshi Nagaoka (Gifu University, Japan). An assembly to review and discuss the bylaws of the society was held in Kyoto and a vote was also held to formally establish the Society in addition a vote took place to elect the Officers of the Society. The Society was now to be called the International Society for Food Peptides and Proteins (ISFPP). ISFPP was formally incorporated on March 10, 2026. The 5^th Symposium of the newly incorporated ISFPP will take place in Limerick (Ireland) in June 2027.

The origin of the Society’s logo: Dr. Andrea Liceaga (Purdue University, USA) donated her time, contacts and resources to designing the first version of logo for the 3^rd Symposium. This logo was also used at the 4^th Symposium. Following incorporation of the Society and its newly expanded the reach to include Food Proteins, Dr. Liceaga again worked with her graphic designer friend (Petrushka Sainz) to develop the Society’s updated logo. The designer explained: “Rather than literally depicting the object, the logo abstracts its formal behavior: a structure that folds, connects, and maintains its equilibrium. The result is a brand grounded in genuine scientific principles, synthesized into a visual system that is precise, contemporary, and highly recognizable.”

The origin of the Society’s website: During the 2026 American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Annual Meeting & Expo (New Orleans, Louisiana, USA) Dr. Jianping Wu had a side discussion with Dr. Kaustav Majumder (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and Dr. Nandiak Bandara University of Manitoba) about the Society’s need for a website and the budgetary challenges involved. While passing by, Dr. Xin Yang (Kansas State University) overheard the conversation and graciously volunteered to help develop the new website to support the Society.